Recent Advances in Radiopharmaceuticals for Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy

Area of Science:

• Nuclear medicine and molecular imaging
• Oncology therapeutics
• Radiopharmaceutical chemistry

Background:

• Radiopharmaceuticals enable precise delivery of diagnostic or therapeutic radionuclides to disease sites.
• Clinical adoption has surged due to FDA approvals of 177Lu-DOTA-TATE and 177Lu-PSMA-617, establishing radiotheranostics in oncology.
• Next-generation agents utilize optimized radionuclides and targeting vectors for improved efficacy and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review technological and clinical progress in radiopharmaceuticals from 2021-2025.
• To highlight advancements in radionuclide platforms, targeting vectors, and dosimetry.
• To guide future development and clinical implementation of precision radiotheranostics.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of recent technological and clinical progress (2021-2025).
• Analysis of FDA-approved and investigational agents.
• Review of mechanisms of cell death, dosimetry, clinical trials, and translational challenges.

Main Results:

• New agents with optimized radionuclides (e.g., alpha emitters like 225Ac) and vectors show enhanced tumor targeting and reduced toxicity.
• Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals are crucial for image-guided patient selection, dosimetry, and adaptive treatment planning.
• Applications are expanding beyond oncology to neurodegeneration, cardiovascular, and inflammatory diseases.

Conclusions:

• Radiotheranostics are a cornerstone of precision oncology, with ongoing expansion into other diseases.
• Innovations in targeting, radionuclide choice, and dosimetry are critical for advancing the field.
• Addressing translational challenges like supply chains and toxicity management is essential for broader clinical implementation.